"This night is making me so sad
If there was a way to get it out, I wanna get it out
If there was a way to get it out, I wanna get it out."
This is one of the darkest songs I have heard lately. And you should know that a lot of my friends think that I only listen to dark music. Erika M. Anderson, EMA, creates something that is both crisp and fragile.And dark...
EMA - Marked is found on the record "Past life martyred saints" released in 2011.
"Sylvia's mother says Sylvia's packing, she's going be leaving today
Sylvia's mother says Sylvia's marrying, a fellow down Galveston-Way
Sylvia's mother says Please don't say nothing, to make her start crying and stay
And the operator says Forty cents more, for the next three minutes."
It is a fact that I listen a lot to sad music, songs about broken hearts and love no more. Every now and then I get the question, which is the saddest song ever?
It is impossible to answer that question it is something that I change my mind about nearly every day. But there are few songs that always bring tears to my eyes. Like this one.
Dr. Hook - Sylvia's mother is found on the record "Doctor Hook and the Medicine Show" released in 1971.
"One bad night I’ll hold the glass until the glass can hold me down,
And one bad night I’ll spill and spill until my feet begin to drown.
One bad night I’ll hear you calling me to help you not pass out."
Tonight, live on a stage in Stockholm, The Antlers. This is a band that I recently discovered though I got to admit that I have not made my final decision about the band yet. Some songs are awesome, others... not so awesome. It will be interesting to see if a concert with The Antlers will help me make that final decision.
As interesting as the main act is the opening act, Dry The River. I suspect that we will hear a lot from them in 2012...
The Antlers - Every night my teeth are falling out is found on the record "Burst apart" released in 2011.
Sometimes one can only be truly grateful to youtube and other similar media. And of course a special thank you to my brother who introduce me to this tune. Sometimes I laugh, sometimes I cry when I hear this song.
The Motors - You beat the hell outta me is found on the record "Approved by The Motors" released in 1978.
"When the ground was shaking
And your jewel tea was a falling
There's a cracking in your kitchen
Oh i know you heard me calling
Out a name that i never used for you, till then
Out a name that i never used for you, till then
Out a name that i never used."
So I got some tremendous news the other day, the wonderful band Lambchop is about to release new material. In the meantime let us step into some November darkness with help of an earlier release.
Lambchop - Caterpillar is found on the record "Is a woman" released in 2002.
"Do you need some time on your own? Do you need some time all alone? Everybody needs some time on their own Don't you know you need some time all alone?"
November is usually the month of the year that I hate. It is dark when you get up in the morning. It is dark when you go to bed. And in between it rains. This year has not been like that, it has been rather sunny, much warmer than usual, actually rather pleasant. Until today... when the November rain falls, just like the old days.
Guns N'Roses - November rain is found on the record "Use your illusion I" released in 1991.
"Near a tree by a river there's a hole in the ground.
Where an old man of Erin goes around and around.
And his mind is a beacon in the veil of the night.
For a strange kind of fashion there's a wrong and a right."
Yesterday I spent some time together with my six year old nephew, we started to tell silly riddles to each other double entendre type riddles. Telling riddles made me think of this song though I have no idea if it includes a double entendre or not.
Nik Kershaw - The riddle is found on the record "The riddle" released in 1984.
"So take my hand, tonight
And hold it tight
The nightmare's here
Here to stay, tonight
But we will find our way."
Henric de da Cour is finally back with new material. Following a career in the groups Yvonne and Strip Music he is now releasing an album as a solo artist. As good as ever.
Henric de la Cour - Dracula is found on the record "Henric de la Cour" released in 2011.
"Most of my fantasies are of
To be of use
To be of some hard
Simple
Undeniable use."
Tonight Bill Callahan is playing live in Stockholm. Once upon a time Bill Callahan released music under the name Smog. I saw Smog live about 15 years ago, still a concert that I rank among the best I have seen. Maybe I should go tonight after all...
Smog - To be of use is found on the record "Red apple falls" released in 1997.
"How can they be tired of London?
The sense in the air on a warm day
Generation of hope that sees better days
But moving along in the same old ways."
So I am back in Sweden following 48 hours in London. A short trip but a great one. The Cure, what can I possibly say? The band spent three and a half hours on stage playing 45 songs.
The Low Anthem, as always a fantastic live act, again they delivered a show that put a big smile on my face despite the fact that their music often is sad. One more thing... It was great to be able to visit the Royal Albert Hall but The Camden Roundhouse, an amazing building to see a concert.
London, well London is always nice too. I certainly have mixed emotions about the town ever since my heart was broken there a few years ago. Nevertheless I never get tired of the town; I will be back.
Dirty Pretty Things - Tired of England is found on the record "Romance At Short Notice" released in 2008.
"No arm around my shoulder
Only getting colder
Tryin to remember
If you were even real."
My last day in London. But I will be back soon. Let me end this trip with what I believe is one of London's finest at the moment. Moreover one of the better songs this year has to offer.
Veronica Falls - Bad feeling is found on the record "Veronica Falls" released in 2011.
"Mary Anne, I know I’m a long shot
But Mary Anne, what else have you got
I am a ticket taker, many tickets have I torn
And I will be your arc, we will float above the storm."
The Cure at the Royal Albert Hall. It was amazing.
Hopefully I will catch another amazing concert tonight when I travel to Camden in northern London to witness my third The Low Anthem show. The multi-talented members of The Low Anthem is a band that I discovered about two years ago when they provided an astonish concert at the Way Out West festival i Gothenburg.
I have listened to The Low Anthem almost every day since then.
The Low Anthem - Ticket taker is found on the record "Oh my God Charlie Darwin" released in 2007.
"Under a sky, no one sees,
Waiting, watching it happening.
Don’t hurry give it time,
Things are the way they have to be.
Slow down, give it time,
Still life, you know I’m listening.
The moment that you want is coming if you give it time."
Time to go to a concert again, this time The Horrors one of my new discoveries 2011 will be on stage. In my opinion they have released one of the best albums this year. Of course I have to see them live when given the opportunity.
By the way, today the date is 11-11-11. What will happen? Will anything happen?
The Horrors - Still life is found on the record "Skying" released in 2011.
Last week I caught Richmond Fontaine live for the first time even though they have been around for quite some time. This same goes for the band I will catch live tonight.
KMFDM was founded in 1984; I heard them for the first time a few years later but it is not until now about 25 years later that I will have the opportunity to see them live for the first time. Needless to say I am looking forward to it.
And "no", KMFDM is not an abbreviation for Kill Mother-Fucking Depeche Mode.
KMFDM - A drug against war is found on the record "Angst" released in 1993.
""Don't turn your back on me, don't ever let me down" She said,
"I picked you up each time before you hit the ground"."
Flogging Molly is visiting Stockholm tonight. I cannot go which is a shame since Flogging Molly usually is a great live act. Well instead of being there listening to them tonight I cannot always listen to a Flogging Molly favourite.
Flogging Molly - Within a mile of home is found on the record "Within a mile of home" released in 2004.
"Days Days are forgotten Now it's all over Simply forgotten How to disappear."
Certain days are days that just pass without leaving any significant signs. Today has been one of those days. I can hardly remember a thing that has happened the last 24 hours.
Kasabian - Days are forgotten is found on the record "Velociraptor!" released in 2011.
"He lives in a house, a very big house in the country
Watching afternoon repeats and the food he eats in the country
He takes all manner of pills and piles up analyst bills in the country
It's like an animal farm lot's of rural charm in the country."
It is time to leave the town. It is time to go to the countryside. At least for a few days.
Blur - Country house is found on the record "The great escape" released in 1995.
I watched c-beams glitter in the dark near the Tanhauser Gate.
All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain.
Time to die."
All Saints Day today, a day when to remember the ones close to you that have passed away. Instead of finding a song that handles death and remembering someone who is no longer alive I thought of this movie quote.
Vangelis - End title is found on the Blade Runner soundtrack released in 1982. The text above is the end quote spoken by the character Roy Batty (played by Rutger Hauer).
"Well how many times have we looked up into the starry skies,
and how many times have we felt the passion rise.
Every ruby-lipped girl baby, old lady, squaw junkie,
Girl after girl after girl, every muse, whore,
Good witch, princess, back arching, year after year after year."
Richmond Fontaine surprised me. Of course the concert was exactly as good as I expected. At the same time the show was louder and "noisier" than what had in my mind. Sometimes noise can be could though it did add an extra dimension to the music.
Another artist that I have listened to a lot, Heather Nova, also played live in Stockholm last night. I decided to see Richmond Fontaine instead of Heather Nova of two reasons.
1, This was the first time I saw Richmond Fontaine live while I have seen Heather Nova 5-6 times before.
2, The latest Heather Nova release ("300 days at sea") is horrible. She has turned in to be a bad copy + paste version of herself. I have heard every song on the album a number of times before.
Once upon a time Heather Nova did release great music though (and she is great live). This is one of many excellent Heather Nova songs.
Heather Nova - I'm the girl is found on the record "Siren" released in 1998.
No video today, instead you will find the song here.
"I sat back down and fell into the uneasiest of sleeps the worst nightmares of sleeps
Where a madman came after me
His hair was on fire and his eyes were bleeding and he said he was going to kill me."
So... The Smashing Pumpkins. These days Billy Corgan seems to be interested in three things when playing live: 1, Creating a lot of noise. 2, Playing songs that no one have heard before. 3, Convincing his audience that he is the best guitarist in the world. Which he, be the way, is not.
"I can feel your pain" Billy Corgan sings in one of the songs. I doubt it, if so he would have setup a completely different show. In other words, pretty far from perfect.
Back to today now. This is one of scariest songs I have ever heard. A song that creeps under my skin and chills my heart. Tonight I will catch Richmond Fontaine live for the first time. I hope I will end up being terrified during the concert.
Richmond Fontaine - Welhorn yards is found on the record "The Fitzgerald" released in 2005.
"I know we're just like old friends
we just can't pretend
that lovers make amends
we are reasons so unreal
we can't help but feel that something has been lost
but please you know you're just like me
next time I promise we'll be
perfect."
I am heading to a Smashing Pumpkins concert tonight. I really do not know what to expect. Smashing Pumpkins were a great band that became a pretty bad band. But maybe they are a good band again. Anyway it will be fun to see them on stage again even though singer/guitarist Billy Corgan is the only remaining original member.
Smashing Pumpkins - Perfect is found on the record "Adore" released in 1998.
"Be running up that road, Be running up that hill, Be running up that building. Say, If I only could, oh..."
I hardly ever remember what I dream. Last night was an exception; I woke exhausted this morning after spending a night running. On the streets, in the woods and in green fields seemingly never reaching the goal. I wonder what this means?
Kate Bush - Running up that hill is found on the record "Hounds of love" released in 1985.
